Tension bar for wire fencing



Oct. 21, 1941. -l E ROY FORD TENSION BAR FOR WIRE FENCING Filed Dec. 21, 1938 INVENTOR. LER o-r F'o R D Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENSION BAR FOR WIRE FENCING Le Roy Ford, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application December 21, 1938, Serial No. 246,945

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a wire fence structure, and particularly that type of fencing which employs chain link fabric or a similar structure.

Various structures have been heretofore employed for securing the ends of a wire fencing or the borders of a fabric or chain link panel in such manner that the fencing will be firmly and rigidly held under tension, one of the problems being to provide such a structure, common- 1y termed a tension bar, so arranged that the thickness of the wire strands will not interfere with its mounting or support with respect to end posts, panel frames and the like. Thus, where the strands of wire pass about the tension bar, their thickness forms an obstruction which makes it dimcult and impractical to properly secure such tension bar to an end post or frame. In some instances, the tension bar has been mounted within the end post or frame bars which is not a satisfactory arrangement, and an equally unsatisfactory arrangement is whereby the wire strands or links are in some manner secured Within the tension bar instead of around it, or to lugs or other projecting structures secured externally thereon.

The object of this invention is to provide a tension bar about which the wire strands or links may pass in the usual manner, but which may be directly and securely fastened to an end post or frame by direct engagement therewith through the medium of deformed sections.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fence panel showing the wire fabric and tension bars secured within the panel frame. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation showing a section of the panel frame with the tension bars and wire fabric secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a modified form showing a central longitudinal section through the frame with the tension bar removably secured thereto.

In the drawing there is shown for illustration a panel frame 5 comprising rectangularly associated tubular bars welded together at their ends to provide corners, as indicated at 9. Whereas the invention is illustrated as applied to a panel structure having a frame 5, it is similarly applicable to an end post or similar structure in such manner as may be desired to secure the fencing.

The fencing comprises a wire fabric or mesh, which preferably may be in the form of chain links of the usual character, as indicated at IU.

The marginal loops of the links or fabric pass about each other, and along their marginal edges about a tension bar I. At the terminala ll of the wire strands forming the links, the ends are interlocked with each other and about one of the tension bars in the usual manner.

In order that the tension bars may abut directly against the panel frame bars, they are provided with a series of off-set sections 8 intermediate their ends, as well as any ofi-set sections 8 which, as shown herein, are joined with corresponding end ofi-set sections of a transverse bar. Such off-set sections extend in a direction away from the screen to a slightly greater ex-' tent than the thickness of the wire strands. Thus, when the tension bars I are secured within a frame 5 or to end posts or the like, there is provided a space l3 therebetween due to the series of spaced oif-set sections. Such space provides room for the thickness of the wire strand where it passes about the tension bar between said bar and the frame or post structure.

The off-set sections above referred to are brought into direct engagement with the frame 5 or end posts so that they may be welded thereto as indicated at 12 or may be removably secured by a countersunk screw I4, as shown by Fig. 4.

By means of the direct contact between the tension bar and the frame or post structure, a trim and inexpensive wire fence or barrier structure is provided which cannot be spread and permits the wire to be anchored permanently without any projecting portions thereof over the frame. It also provides for the use of an economically formed tension bar which may be directly secured in position without protruding straps or similar devices required where there is spaced relation between the bar and frame or the like.

The invention claimed is:

1. A guard or fence unit including a peripherally arranged rigid frame, a second rigid frame similar thereto and within the same, and of slightly less area than that outlined by the interior of the first frame and substantially conforming thereto in outline and coplanar therewith, and an openwork, chain link, wire lacing type filler of the same outline and area of the inner frame and tensioned thereby when supported by and interwoven about the inner frame at spaced intervals, and lying in the common plane with said frames, the inner frame including at spaced intervals laterally offset portions to the outer frame maintaining tautness in the directed toward the outer frame and rigid therefiller.

with' to reenforce the outer frame and form lon- 2. A unit, as defined by claim 1, characterized gitudinally aligned elongated openings or chanby the inner frame including offset portions at nels therebetween, the frame and filler inter- 5 the corners and similarly rigid with the outer weaving being located within the openings or frame at th corners thereof.

channels, the connection of the offset portions LE ROY FORD! 

